Marvin H. Phillips

Marvin Henry Phillips, was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 13, 1931, and graduated from this life on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, after an extended illness. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Beck, on July 4, 1953. Marvin served for four years in the U.S. Air Force (1951-1955), including one year stationed in South Korea. He then answered the call to ministry and dedicated 57 years as fulltime preacher and missionary for churches in Stockdale, Texas; Port Lavaca, Texas; Siloam Springs, Arkansas; Perth, Australia; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. This included being part of one of the first church-planting mission teams of Churches of Christ, post-WWII, having helped to plant two congregations in Perth, Australia during the 1960s. With three children in tow, the Phillips family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1970, where Marvin preached for a new church plant, the Garnett Road Church of Christ. It started with 100 members and eventually grew to nearly 2,000. Marvin also co-directed with Terry Rush, the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop, which annually attracted thousands of attendees. He authored six books, hosted a cable TV program, entitled 'Peak of the Week', and traveled the nation encouraging churches. His positive message caught the attention of organizers of 'Positive Mental Attitude' Rallies. He spoke at events around the nation with such notables as Paul Harvey, Norman Vincent Peale, Art Linkletter, and Zig Ziglar. After 26 years as their preaching minister, Marvin retired from the Garnett Church in 1996. He continued his preaching and mission ministry through 2012. This included global mission efforts which took him back to Australia several times, as well as 33 mission excursions to South Africa, which prompted his 'Bibles for Africa' ministry. This resulted in one million New Testaments being distributed to peoples of several nations on that continent. In these latter years, Marvin and Dot have been blessed as members of the Park Plaza Church of Christ in Tulsa. He also served on the editorial staff of 'One Body' magazine, and was a regular participant and organizer of several 'Unity Forums' of churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Kentucky Christian College in 1994. He served on the Board of Directors of Acappella Ministries, and on the Board of Development of Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. He is survived by his wife, Dot, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and their three grown children, Alan, and his wife, Donna, of Edmond, Oklahoma; Mark, and his wife, Amy, of Nashville, Tennessee; and Tammy, and her husband, Dale, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He was so proud of each of his nine grandchildren (and spouses). He also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren; as well as his surviving sister, Mary Mereness; many nephews and nieces; and thousands of spiritual brothers and sisters. There will be a public viewing will be 2PM-8PM, Friday, April 27, 2018 at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st, Tulsa, OK. The family will not be present at the viewing. A public 'Celebration of Life' will be held at the Park Plaza Church of Christ (5925 E. 51st Street, Tulsa, OK, 74135), on Saturday, April 28 at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts be made in Marvin's na'e to 'Oklahoma Christian University' (PO Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73036), or 'Bibles for Africa' at Park Plaza Church. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Marvin H. Phillips

September 13, 1931 - April 18, 2018